Elevator.



v PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908. CJ D- SBEBBRGER. I

ELEVATOR.

' APPLICATION rum) NOV. 5. 1902. Bmmwnn 0M. as, 1905.

a exams-sum "1.

Inventor No. 890,802. -P ATENTED JUNE 16,1908. G. D. SEEBERGER.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.'E,-1902. RENEWED OOT. 25,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

Ji l 'i'i' i 'fii'illlllllllll Aft ya.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER, OF voNKE s nw YORK,

inmva'ron'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rete ted June 1a, 1908.

Application filed November 8, 1902, Serial No. 180,608. Renewed outa es,18015. Serial No. 284,821.

To all whom it may concern:

GER, a citizen of the United States, residing a at Yonkers, inthe countyof Westchester and State of New York, have invented cer tain new anduseful'Improvements in Elevators, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention is concerned with certain improvements inelevators, such as moving stairways of the en'eraltype shown inmyapplication Serial 0. 110,641, filed June 7, 1902.. In the aforesaidapplication, the

steps telescope into'each other on the landings, while in mypresentconstruction J emplo a step that'is capable of having its treadsur ace widened or narrowed, as the case may be; in the constructionemployed, the tread surfaces being narrowed on the horizontal landings,and extended onthe inclined portions where the driving mechanism runsmore rapidly. v

y invention is further concerned with the step capableof having itstread surface contracted and expanded, irrespective of the pur ose forcontractim or expandin it.

y invention is furt er concerne with a novel s stem of and mechamsm forauto' matical y connecting and disconnecting the steps as they passcertain points on the ways, wh1ch-maybe applied to any desired systemwhere it is needed.

To illustrate my invention, 1' annex hereto three sheets ofdrawings, inwhich the same reference characters are used to desi ate identical partsin all the figures, of which.-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, diagrammatic in its nature, illustratingmy present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 isan end elevation of one of thesteps detached sh'owing'the tread surfaceexpanded; Fi 4 is a similar view showing-it contractef; vations of oneof the steps; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same on the line A-AI have illustrated my invention as applied to a moving stairway of thetype in w ch a cable 10 at the lower landing runs at acer tam-rate ofspeed, and a cable 1 1 at the upper landing runs at preferably the samerate .of

s eed, while the steps on the incline are 'ven by the cable 12 Whichrunsat a higher rate of speed. The steps "13 are not connected with eachother, excepttemporarily in the manner hereinafter specified, and arethe-two standards 23.

Figs. 5 and 6 are front and rear ele-- oresaid app 'cation No. 110,641,or'

any similar suitable mechanism. The steps 13 are provided with thecustomary axle bars 15 having the arms 16 and 17on their ends, the arms16 having the wheels 18 journaled on their outerends, and the arms 17being similarlyprovided with the wheels 1 9. I These wheels 18 and 19are on different planes, asis" i customary in this vclass of devices,inorder to cooperate with the different tracks upon which they run, therear wheels 18'running v on the tracks 20 and the forward wheels 19-running on the tracks- 21 in order to keep the tread surfaces of thesteps horizontal throughout the portionsof the tracks that are utilizedfor carrying purposes. The mechanism hitherto described is of'theordinary construction or similar to that shown in 'my aforesaidapplicationNo. 1 10,641 and claimed therein.-

At each end of each ste just inside of the the vertical plate arms 16and 17 is secure 22; -which has projecting upward from the centerthereof a rigid standard 23, which terminates-in the fiat horizontalplate 24, ex-

tending the length of the step and connecting Formed in the u perportionof the plate. 22 on either side 0 the standardf 23and closehereto are the; com-j parativ'el' short horizon al slots 25, in whichslide theori-zontal bases 26 of the two sliding td zk-wh hs uplper endswithithehoriz ntalflat plates 28 w chin the expended" position of theste sli htly overlap the; plate 24. EThese stan ar s 27- arealsorovided-withthe .vertic'al slots 29 and '30 or the purpose'to bedescribed. Beneath'anda little outsideof the slots '25 are the similar,-but'longer,slot's 31,

second pair of movable standards 33, which are similar-in all respectsto the standards 27, except that their top 1 plates 34 extending acrossthe top of the ste s arche-- provided at their Formed in the plates '22beneath and somewhat" outside of .the slots 31 are 'the still in whichslide the horizontal bases. 32of=the longer horizontal slots 36, whichreceive the sliding bases 37 of the air of movable standards 38. Thesestan ards 38 are similar to -shown at 40 on one side and at 41 on theother side to form the body of the risers of the ste s, which are of thecurved form customari y em loyed in this class of devices. The standar s23, 27', 33 and 38 are. all pro,-

.vided with the vertical slots 29 and 30, with which cooperate the pins42 and 43 of the set of lazy-tongs 44, which are supported at theircenter by the pin 45 projecting outward from the standard 23, and whichare secured at their centers to the standards 27, 33 and 38 b the pins46, 47, and 48, respectively, the e ect of this construction bein thatthe standards canbe extended to the position shown in Fi 3 or contractedto that shown in Fig. 4, t us furnishing the step with a broad or narrowtread surface as may be desired. I To make the outer surface of thetread surface and therisers substantially flush throughout in theexpanded position, I provide a flexible covering 49, which is secured tothe bottom of the extension 40, and passes over the adjacent riser, thetread surface, the other riser, and is finally attached to the strongspring roller journaled in the brackets 51 formed on the adjacentstandards 38.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the ste s are in the contracted positionshown in 1g. 4 on the landin s,. and in the expanded positions shown in1g. 3 on the inclines of the carrying and return runs of the elevator,and to automatically contract and expand the steps/I provide the doublegear segments 52, pivoted at each end of the steps, preferably on thepins 45. These segments are connected at different radial distances fromthe pin v4.5 with the pins 46, 47 and 48 by the links 53, 54

and 55, which vary .in their lengths as is.

- necessary to expand or contract the step by Q elongated heads 61.

the'swinging of the segment fromthe uos1- tion shown in Fig. 3 to thatshown in Fig. 4, and vice versa. On the two ends of the segments, I formthe rack teeth 56 which mesh with the rack barsv57 when they are to beexpanded or the rack bars 58 when they are to e contracted, these IflCKbars being suitably supported from the main structure and" located, asseen in Fig. 1, where the tracks change from the horizontal to theincline, and vice versa. A

I preferably employ mechanism for connecting the ste s on the operativeortions of the tracks, an for this purpose, I- orm in the extension 40and the adjacent covering 49 the vertical slots 59, through which passthe,

shanks 60 of one or more buttons having the As it is necessary toseparate these steps in going around the curves, I provide means forturning the buttons from the engaging position shown in Fig. 6 to aposition at right angles thereto in which the heads will be free to passout of the slots 59, and for this ur ose I extend the shanks 60 throughsultab e bearings in the extension 41 and provide them with thedownwardly projecting arms 62 having the elongated slots 63 thereincooperatin with the pins 64 on the bar 65 mounted to s ide in suitablebearings 66 formed on the inner face of the ends of the extensions 41.On one end of each bar 65, I place a contact member 67, which preferablytakes the form of an antifriction roller, which cooperates with the camtracks 68 and 69, the track 68 serving to turn the buttons to engagingposition when the operative portion of the track is reached, and thetrack 69 serving to turn them to disengaging position when it becomesnecessary to go around the curve. Byreason of this arrangement the stepsare interlocked on the transporting ortion of the system and while sointerlocks, orconnected provide a unitary moving structure. To hold thebar 65in whichever position of adjustment it may be thrown withoutthe-necessity of employing continuous cam tracks cooperating. with theroller 67, I provide a pair of notches 70 on the under surface of thebar with which cooperates the s ring detent 71, to hold the bar firmlybut yie dingly in either osition of adjustment. To accommodate t erolling and unrolling of the flexible covering 49 with reference to thebuttons 61, I make the slots 72 therein extend through so much of theadjacent covering as is necessary.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in the form which I atpresent consider best ada ted to carry out 1ts pur oses, it will be unerstood that it is capa le of modifications and that I do not desire tobe limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as maybe necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. In .a device of the class described, a step havin its tread surfaceexpansible and contracti le throughout its entire len th.

2. In a device of the class descri ed, a step having its tread surfaceexpansible and contractible and of unbroken continuity.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the tracks,of the carriers having their upper surfaces expansible and contractiblethroughout their entire lengths, and means for automatically expandingor contracting said surfaces at certain points of the tracks. v

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with thewheel-base having the rigid standards thereon, of the sliding standardsmounted therein and movable to and from the rigid standards, platesconnecting said standards and forming the basis of a carrying surface,and lazy-tong connections between said standards. a

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with thewheel-base having the rigid standards thereon, of the sliding standardssupported thereon and movable to and from the rigid standards,overlapping plates connecting said. standards and constituting the basisof a carrying surface, and lazy-tong tongs to expand or contract thetread surface,

at certain points on the tracks.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the'tracks,of the carriers each consisting of the wheel-base having the rigidstandards thereon and the sliding standards supported. thereby andniovable'to and from the rigid standards, plates connecting saidstandards and constituting the basis of the tread surface of the.carricr, lazy-tong connections between said standards; and meansforautomatically moving said lazytongs to expand or contract the treadsurfaceat certain points on the tracks, consisting of members pivotallyconnected to the.

rigid'standards on the carriers, links connectments, and means forswinging said memher at the desired )oints.

p In'a device othe class described, the combination-with the tracks; of'the steps each consistin of thcwhvcl-lmse having the rigid standar sthereon, the sliding stand.

ar ds supported thereby and movable to and .from the rigid standards,plates connecting said standards and constituting the basis of the treadsurface of the step, lazy-tongconnectionsbetween said standards,segments pivotally mounted on the rigid standards and iaving teeth ontheir peripheries, links connecting said se ments and the lazy-tongelements; and rac s on the supporting structure suitably located tocooperate with the teeth of the segments to contractor ex and the stepsautomatically at the points esired.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with thewheel-base having the rigid standards thereon and the vertical plateshaving the horizontal slots therein, of thesliding standards having theelongated horizontal bases sliding in said slots and movable to and fromthe rigid standards, plates connectin said standards and constitutingthe basls of the tread surface, and

ing said members and the lazy-tong ele i oints in t means forrotating-said laz -tong ar s.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a stephavin 1ts tread surface expansible and contractib e, of a coverintherefor adapted to contract and expan with the tread surface.

combination with a step havingjits tread surface ,expansibleandcontractible, of a covering therefor adapted tocontract and expandwith the tread surface consisting of a flexible sheet secured at one endto the connections between said stand- 11. In a device of the classdescribed, the i step and having the other end wound on a spring-rollersuitabl supported by the step. 12. In a device 0 the class described,the

combination with the ways, of a plurality of carriers, driving mechanismtherefor, connections between the adjacent carriers, and means forautomatically connecting anddisconnecting said carriers as they passcertain points in the ways. 7

13. In a device of the class described, the

colnbination With the ways, of a plurality of 1 carriers, drivingmechanism to which they can beindividually' connected and d sconnected,connections between the ad acent carriers, and means'forautomati'callycon nectin'g and disconnecting said carriers they pass certain points inthe ways. 7

14. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the ways,'of aplurality of carriers, driving mechanismtherefor, con

nections between the adjacent carriers, and means for automaticallyconnecting and disconnectinglsaid carriers as the; pass certain e waysconsistin o t e rotatable utton having an elongate head projectin fromeachca'rrier and engaging a vertica slot in the riser of the adjacentcarrier, and

means for rotating said button at various points on the track. a

- 15. In a device of the class described,athe

combination with the ways, of a plurality of carriers, driving mechanismtherefor, connections between the adjacent carriers, and

means for automatically connecting and disconnectin said carriers as-theass certain points in t e Ways, consisting ozthe rotatable button havinganelongated head projecting from each carrier andzengaginga verticalslotin the riser of the ad'acentcarrier, and utton, at'various pointsonthei'track consisting of a sliding bar extendin to the end of thecarrier,- and cams cooperating withthe end of said bar.

'16. In a device of the class described, the combinationwith the ways,of a plurality of carriers the riser of each of which'ls provided withvertical slots; driving mechanism therefor, rotatable buttons havingelongated heads projecting from each carrier and ada ted to cooperatewith the vertical slots in t e riser of the adjacent carrier, yokesconnected with said butt ns on.the inner side of 'the ris'er,'a

&

sliding bar extending longitudinally on the interior of the riser andhaving pins engaging said yokes, cam tracks on the supportingstructures, and antifriction rollers on the sliding bars engaging saidcam tracks.

17. In a device of the class described, a step having an expansible andcontractible tread surface of unbroken continuity.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having ezqansible and contractible tread surfaces of unroken continuity, and means for expanding or contracting said surfaces.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having eX ansible and contractible treadsurfaces of un rokencontinuity, and means for expanding or contracting said surfacesindependently of each other.

20. In a device of the class described, the

- combination of a plurality of carriers having expjansible andcontractible' tread surfaces of un roken continuity, and means forautopiatically expanding or contracting said suraces. 2

21. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having ex ansible and contractible tread surfaces of unroken continuity, and means for auto matically expanding or contractingsaid surfaces independently of each other.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having ex ansibleand contractible tread surfaces of un rokencontinuity, and means for automaticall expanding or contracting saidsurfaces in ependentl of each other and during the movement of t ecarriers.

23. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof carriers provided with mechanism for connecting them to each other,of means for automatically ac Correction in Letters Patent No. 890,802.

tuating said mechanism to connect and dis connect the carriers.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof carriers, of means for automatically connecting and dis- It is herebycertified that in Letters Patent No. the application of Charles D.Seeberger, of Yonkers,

connecting the carriers during the movement l of the latter.

25. In a device of'the class described, the combination with a way, of aseries of steps 1 adapted to run onsaid way, means'for driving thesteps, and means to connect said steps together on the way.

26. In a conveyer, interlocked sections 1 forming a unitary structureupon an inclined 2 7, In a conviayeninterlocked tread surfaces forininga unitary device on the incline. I

28. In a device of the class described, a ulriiit composed ofinterlocked steps on the inc ne.

unit composed of interlocked steps on the incline, and means for drivingthe steps as a unit.

30. In a device of the class described, a way having inclined andhorizontal portions, of a series of steps adapted to run on the way,means for driving the steps, and means for connecting the steps to forma unitary structure on the said inclined and horizontal portions of theway. I

31. In a conveyer, a series of moving steps, ways on which'the stepstravel comprising horizontal and inclined portions and endcurves, meansto connect the steps together on the horizontal and inclined portionsofthe ways, and means to disconnect them at the end-curves.

in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER.

Witnesses:

MARSHALL, W. H. BRADY- 890,802, granted June 16, 1908, upon New .York,for an improvement in Elevators, an error appears in the printedspecification requiring correction, as

follows: In line 95, page 1 the word expended should read expanded; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of July, A

[snan] E. B. MOORE,

Commissioner of Patents;

32. In a conveyer, a way having horizon- &

sliding bar extending longitudinally on the interior of the riser andhaving pins engaging said yokes, cam tracks on the supportingstructures, and antifriction rollers on the sliding bars engaging saidcam tracks.

17. In a device of the class described, a step having an expansible andcontractible tread surface of unbroken continuity.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having ezqansible and contractible tread surfaces of unroken continuity, and means for expanding or contracting said surfaces.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having eX ansible and contractible treadsurfaces of un rokencontinuity, and means for expanding or contracting said surfacesindependently of each other.

20. In a device of the class described, the

- combination of a plurality of carriers having expjansible andcontractible' tread surfaces of un roken continuity, and means forautopiatically expanding or contracting said suraces. 2

21. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having ex ansible and contractible tread surfaces of unroken continuity, and means for auto matically expanding or contractingsaid surfaces independently of each other.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof carriers having ex ansibleand contractible tread surfaces of un rokencontinuity, and means for automaticall expanding or contracting saidsurfaces in ependentl of each other and during the movement of t ecarriers.

23. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof carriers provided with mechanism for connecting them to each other,of means for automatically ac Correction in Letters Patent No. 890,802.

tuating said mechanism to connect and dis connect the carriers.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof carriers, of means for automatically connecting and dis- It is herebycertified that in Letters Patent No. the application of Charles D.Seeberger, of Yonkers,

connecting the carriers during the movement l of the latter.

25. In a device of'the class described, the combination with a way, of aseries of steps 1 adapted to run onsaid way, means'for driving thesteps, and means to connect said steps together on the way.

26. In a conveyer, interlocked sections 1 forming a unitary structureupon an inclined 2 7, In a conviayeninterlocked tread surfaces forininga unitary device on the incline. I

28. In a device of the class described, a ulriiit composed ofinterlocked steps on the inc ne.

unit composed of interlocked steps on the incline, and means for drivingthe steps as a unit.

30. In a device of the class described, a way having inclined andhorizontal portions, of a series of steps adapted to run on the way,means for driving the steps, and means for connecting the steps to forma unitary structure on the said inclined and horizontal portions of theway. I

31. In a conveyer, a series of moving steps, ways on which'the stepstravel comprising horizontal and inclined portions and endcurves, meansto connect the steps together on the horizontal and inclined portionsofthe ways, and means to disconnect them at the end-curves.

in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER.

Witnesses:

MARSHALL, W. H. BRADY- 890,802, granted June 16, 1908, upon New .York,for an improvement in Elevators, an error appears in the printedspecification requiring correction, as

follows: In line 95, page 1 the word expended should read expanded; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of July, A

[snan] E. B. MOORE,

Commissioner of Patents;

32. In a conveyer, a way having horizon- Correction in Letters PatentNo. 890,802.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 890,802, granted June16, 1908, upon the application of Charles D. Seeberger, of Yonkers, NewYork, for an improvement in Elevators, an error appears in the printedspecification requiring correction, as follows: In line 95, page 1, theword expended should read expanded; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of July, A. D., 1908.

[SEAL] E, B. MOORE,

Commissioner of Patents.

